Serological survey of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii in shelter-housed cats infected with feline immunodeficiency virus, Brazil

Felines play a leading role in the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection, but there is scarce information about the epidemiology of Neospora caninum, particularly in feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-infected cats. Cats seropositive to T. gondii do not usually show symptoms unless they are immunosuppressed, such as FIV-infected cats. The same relationship remains poorly known for N. caninum, although it has been associated with neurological disorders in HIV-infected people. Since FIV-infected cats are prone to develop encephalitis of unknown etiology, this study aimed to evaluate the presence of specific antibodies to T. gondii and N. caninum in a shelter for stray cats naturally infected with FIV. A total of 104 serum samples from cats living in a shelter, located in São Paulo city (Brazil), was assessed for T. gondii and N. caninum specific antibody by indirect fluorescent-antibody test (IFAT). Of the 104 cats, 25 (24%) were infected with FIV and, aside from these, 8 (32%) had antibodies against T. gondii (titers from 16 to 128). Only 1 (4%) of the FIV infected cats had antibodies against N. caninum, which was the first record of coinfection. Among the FIV-naïve cats, 11 (14%) were positive for T. gondii (titers from 16 to 256) and only 1 (1.2%) had antibodies against N. caninum. Serologically positive reactions to T. gondii and N. caninum were not correlated with age or sex (p>0.05), and there was no correlation between FIV and the occurrence of anti-T. gondii or anti-N. caninum antibodies (p>0.05). Further studies encompassing larger cat populations from different origins and locations are essential to clarify the prevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum antibodies in FIV-positive cats.Os felinos têm um papel importante na epidemiologia da infecção por Toxoplasma gondii, mas pouco se sabe sobre a epidemiologia da infecção por Neospora caninum em gatos, particularmente em gatos infectados com o vírus da imunodeficiência felina (FIV). Gatos soropositivos para Toxoplasma gondii geralmente não apresentam sintomas a não ser que estejam imunossuprimidos, como gatos infectados com FIV. A mesma relação ainda é pouco conhecida para N. caninum, embora tenha sido associada a distúrbios neurológicos em pessoas infectadas pelo HIV. Considerando que gatos infectados com FIV são propensos a desenvolver encefalite de etiologia desconhecida, o presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a presença de anticorpos específicos para T. gondii e N. caninum em gatos infectados com FIV. Um total de 104 amostras de soro de gatos residentes em um abrigo na cidade de São Paulo, Brasil, foram avaliadas para a presença de anticorpos contra T. gondii e N. caninum pelo teste de imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI). Dos 104 gatos, 25 (24%) estavam infectados com FIV e destes 8, (32%) tinham anticorpos contra T. gondii (titulação entre 16 e 128). Apenas 1 (4%) dos gatos infectados com FIV apresentava anticorpos contra N. caninum, sendo este o primeiro registro dessa coinfecção. Entre os gatos não infectados com FIV, 11 (14%) foram positivos para T. gondii (titulação entre 16 e 256) e apenas 1 (1,2%) tinha anticorpos contra N. caninum. A reação sorologicamente positiva para T. gondii e N. caninum não foi correlacionada com a idade ou sexo (p> 0,05), nem houve correlação entre FIV e ocorrência de anticorpos para T. gondii ou N. caninum (p> 0,05). Estudos subsequentes abrangendo populações maiores de gatos de diferentes origens e locais são essenciais para esclarecer a prevalência de anticorpos contra T. gondii e N. caninum em animais acometidos por FIV.

Cytopathology of cutaneous and subcutaneous neoplasms in feline species: a retrospective study

It is estimated that a quarter of all feline neoplasms affect the integumentary system. Cytological examination is of admirable importance for detection of neoplasms in companion animals, being considered a simple and non-invasive method. To date, there are limited information regarding the prevalence of feline skin cancer as well as the use of cytopathology as a diagnostic tool. In this sense, the study aimed to characterize cutaneous and subcutaneous tumors in 192 cats from the archives of a private clinic in São Paulo-SP, Brazil, specialized in the care of felines. Data regarding the animal (breed definition, sex, and age group) and tumor characteristics (biological behavior, cytomorphological category of neoplasm, and cytological suggestion for neoplasm) were obtained in a five-year period. A 95% confidence interval (CI) was estimated to verify the statistical difference between the animal and tumor characteristics. The chi-square test was carried out to verify the association between the tumor biological behavior and animal variables, as well as other tumor characteristics. Most cats were mixed breed and aged 11 to 15 years. Malignant tumors were predominant. A statistical association was observed between cytomorphological category of neoplasm and biological behavior (p<0.001). Mesenchymal (24.5%) and epithelial tumors (25%) presented the highest frequency among those benign and malignant, respectively. The cytological suggestion for neoplasm was also statistically associated with biological behavior (p<0.001). The highest percentage of occurrence of benign and malignant tumors consisted of lipomas (22.9%) and sarcomas (19.3%), respectively

Estudo da ocorrência de litíase renal e ureteral em gatos com doença renal crônica

Investigou-se a ocorrência de nefrolitíase e/ou ureterolitíase em 72 gatos portadores de doença renal crônica (DRC), classificados predominantemente no estágio II, segundo os critérios designados pela IRIS - International Renal Interest Society. Destes pacientes, 47 (65,27%) apresentaram litíase renal e ou ureteral. Não houve diferença estatística entre o grupo de estudo (DRC com cálculo) e o grupo controle (DRC sem cálculo) em relação à idade (p=0,274). Apesar disso, os pacientes portadores de nefrolitíase e/ou ureterolitíase apresentaram maiores indícios de lesão renal, caracterizados por diferenças estatisticamente relevantes da densidade urinária (p=0,013) e pelo menor tamanho dos rins direito (p=0,009) e esquerdo (p=0,048). Encontrou-se similaridade entre os grupos em relação a outros parâmetros, tais como as concentrações plasmáticas de cálcio total, cálcio ionizado, fósforo, sódio, potássio e paratormônio intacto (PTHi). Os valores das concentrações séricas de ureia e bicarbonato diferiram entre os grupos, com valores de p=0,039 e p=0,037, respectivamente. Além disso, foi mensurada a pressão arterial, que se manteve inalterada na comparação entre o grupo de estudo e o grupo controle. Os resultados obtidos reforçam a necessidade de acompanhamento ultrassonográfico de todos os pacientes portadores de DRC, mesmo daqueles assintomáticos ou em estágios iniciais da doença

Smart Antennas - An Enabling Technology for the Wireless Revolution

Utilizaram-se 15 cães adultos, de ambos os sexos, com e sem definição racial, todos positivos para a presença de microfilárias na circulação periférica, para a observação da periodicidade das mesmas. A contagem das microfilárias foi realizada conforme ANGUS1 (1981). A variação da microfilaremia foi observada durante um período de 24 horas, com amostras colhidas a intervalos de duas horas. Seis dos 15 cães foram submetidos a duas colheitas de material, uma em dia quente (temperatura ambiente média de 23°C) e outra em dia frio (temperatura ambiente média de 16°C). Analisando os resultados obtidos pode-se afirmar que as microfilárias de Dirofilaria immitis apresentam uma periodicidade, porém esta é muito variável, não obedecendo a um padrão fixo. Pode-se afirmar, também, que, uma vez presente, a microfilaremia não desaparece numa ou noutra colheita subseqüente, não dificultando o diagnóstico da parasitose.The periodicity of Dirofilaria immitis microfilariae was studied in 15 adult dogs, purebred or crossbred, males and females. The circulating microfilariae counting was performed according to ANGUS1 (1981). The variation of the microfilaremia was observed during a period of 24 hours, being the blood samples collected with 2 hour intervals. Six of them were submitted to two material collections, one on a warm day, with mean temperature of 23°C, and the other one on a cool day, with mean temperature of 16°C. Analyzing the obtained results it is possible to state that the microfilariae of Dirofilaria immitis present an oscillation, however it is variable and there is not a fixed pattern. It is also true that once present the microfilaremia does not disappear in a subsequent collection, making it not difficult to diagnose this parasitosis

Uso da L-asparaginase (Elspar(R)), Prednisona (Meticorten (R)) e Clorambucil (Leukeran(R)) no tratamento de gatos com linfoma alimentar: 32 casos (2004-2009)

A maior parte dos protocolos quimioterápicos empregados nos felinos para a indução e a manutenção da remissão, são dependentes da utilização de múltiplas drogas, podendo, consequentemente, produzir efeitos colaterais significativos e, assim, comprometer a continuidade e a resposta ao tratamento. Um dos protocolos mais utilizados no tratamento de gatos com linfoma alimentar emprega a associação de prednisona e o clorambucil. Alguns estudos têm demonstrado que a utilização da enzima L-asparaginase no tratamento de gatos com linfoma alimentar parece promover um incremento significativo na sobrevida desses animais. Portanto, a hipótese do presente estudo é de que a associação da L-asparaginase ao já consagrado protocolo que emprega prednisona e clorambucil, proporcionará aumento na expectativa de vida dos gatos com linfoma alimentar. Para tanto, foram avalidos, prospectivamente, os efeitos colaterais e a sobrevida de 32 felinos com diagnóstico histológico ou citológico de linfoma alimentar e submetidos ao tratamento com prednisona, L-asparaginase e clorambucil

Prevalence, clinical and epidemiological features of feline hyperthyroidism at a veterinary teaching hospital in Brazil: a retrospective study

The hyperthyroidism is the most frequently endocrinopathy in cats. The increasing number of diagnoses over time is due to the greater familiarity with the disease and the development of increasingly sensitive diagnostic tools available. This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the prevalence, clinical characteristics and risk factors of hyperthyroidism in cats admitted at one of the largest veterinary teaching hospital in Brazil. Between 2002 and 2007, 234 cats were admitted to the veterinary teaching hospital of the University of São Paulo, Brazil. Total thyroxine (T4t) serum concentration was measured from all cats. Also analyzed the medical charts of cats. Of the 234 cats, 26 (11.1%) were considered hyperthyroid (T4t =3.8 µg/dL). Of hese 26 cats, only two (7.7%) were initially diagnosed as hyperthyroid. The age of cats ranged from 6 to 27 years old (13.1 ± 4.5 years). Twelve patients (46.2%) were female and 14 (53.8%) were male. Eight (30.8%) cats were Siamese, while the others were mixed breed (69.2%). Dry food was the most common food type consumed by cats. There was a high prevalence of hyperthyroid cats with concomitant chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study sheds light on the importance of routinely monitoring feline hyperthyroidism and brings epidemiological and clinical data of this endocrinopathy in cats from one of the largest veterinary teaching hospitals in the country

CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte counts and ratio in cats with chronic gingivostomatitis and naturally infected with feline immunodeficiency virus: a preliminary study

This study aimed to evaluate the CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes counts and CD4+: CD8+ ratio in a colony of cats with chronic gingivostomatitis (CGS). We used forty domestic short-haired cats inhabiting the same colony. Ten cats with CGS were immunodeficiency virus-positive (group IV), and ten with CGS were immunodeficiency virus-negative (group III). As a control, twenty cats without CGS were used: ten cats were immunodeficiency virus-positive (group II) and ten cats were immunodeficiency virus-negative (group I). We employed flow cytometry to count CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. In cats infected with the immunodeficiency virus, the presence of CD4+ lymphocytes were lower both for animals with and without CGS. Conversely, not immunodeficiency virus-infected cats with CGS had a higher amount of CD4+ when compared to seronegative animals without CGS. The counts of CD8+ T lymphocytes showed no significant difference among cats with CGS, whether infected with immunodeficiency virus or not. The CD4+: CD8+ ratio was only different for group III, which was higher than any other group. No difference was observed for total lymphocyte number and CD8+ among groups. By contrast, mean CD4+ levels were different, with cats from groups III and IV showing higher levels than those from groups I and II. The flow cytometry could be a useful tool for the diagnosis and prognosis of cats with CGS infected by the immunodeficiency virus

Feline breast carcinoma microstroma profile

A incidência e complexidade na evolução clínica dos tumores de mamas de gatas domésticas têm despertado interesse especial no estudo de fatores de prognóstico. Uma das formas complementares de avaliação do prognóstico das neoplasias mamárias malignas felinas, pelo exame histopatológico clássico, corresponde à análise do estroma tecidual. O presente trabalho objetivou a caracterização microscópica estromal dos carcinomas mamários de gatas. As amostras (n=24) foram coletadas após a execução de mastectomia e em seguidas fixadas. Posteriormente, o material foi avaliado macroscopicamente e posteriormente submetido ao processamento histológico clássico. Os componentes estromais dos carcinomas mamários corresponderam a áreas de necrose (92%), invasão vascular (62,5%), desmoplasia (21%) e microcalcificações (4%). Para os carcinomas da glândula mamária de gatas domésticas, além da descrição do tipo histomorfológico e grau de diferenciação tumoral, torna-se fundamental a avaliação microscópica detalhada do tecido estromal, uma vez que fornece informações prognósticas úteis e aplicáveis na oncologia felinaThe incidence and complexity in the clinical outcome of mammary tumors in domestic cats have aroused special interest in the study of prognostic factors. One of the complementary forms of prognosis assessment of malignant feline mammary tumors, by classical histopathology, corresponds to the stroma tissue analysis. This study aimed to characterize the mammary carcinomas microscopic stroma in female cats. Following the animals’ mastectomy, samples (n = 24) were collected, being fixed thereafter. After that, the material was submitted to gross exam and subsequently subjected to classic histological processing. The stroma component of the mammary carcinomas corresponded to necrosis areas (92%), vascular invasion by tumor cells (62.5%), desmoplasia (21%) and microcalcifications (4%). For domestic cat mammary gland carcinomas, beyond the description of histomorphological type and degree of tumor differentiation, a detailed microscopic evaluation of the stroma tissue becomes essential, as it provides useful and relevant prognostic information in feline oncology